He stressed that the country’s might is not only in its economy but also in the spiritual strength of people who are a matter of concern for both Orthodox and Muslim religious leaders

Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia

UFA, June 5. /TASS/. Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia, who is on a two-day visit to Russia’s republic of Bashkortostan, met on Sunday with chairman of Central Muslim Spiritual Board of Russia Talgat Tadzhuddin to discuss further cooperation in maintaining unity of Russia’s peoples and inter-religious peace in the country.

"We have very good relations… We share a common position on many issues and what is most important we defend unity of our motherland, inter-religious and inter-ethnic peace. I think these common ideas are a right and good signal to the entire nation," the patriarch said.

He stressed that the country’s might is not only in its economy but also in the spiritual strength of people who are a matter of concern for both Orthodox and Muslim religious leaders.

Mufti Tadzhuddin commended cooperation agreements between the Central Muslim Spiritual Board of Russia and Orthodox eparchies. Extremism and radical ideas, in his words, are alien to people living in Bashkortostan. "We proceed from the principle that it is not up to us to choose our motherland and neighbors. This is God’s will. And a neighbor is like brother," he said.